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VOLUME 1 , ISSUE 2 ( April-June, 2014 ) > List of Articles

CASE REPORT

Microsurgical Management of Intraspinal Tumors in the Lumbar Spine: Hemilaminectomy as an Alternative to Laminectomy

Don Mathew, Tinu Ravi Abraham, Ajith R Nair

Citation Information : Mathew D, Abraham TR, Nair AR. Microsurgical Management of Intraspinal Tumors in the Lumbar Spine: Hemilaminectomy as an Alternative to Laminectomy. J Spinal Surg 2014; 1 (2):84-90.

DOI: 10.5005/jp-journals-10039-1017

Published Online: 01-09-2016

Copyright Statement:  Copyright © 2014; The Author(s).


Abstract

Introduction

Laminectomy is the classical surgical technique done for exposure of the spinal cord in the removal of intraspinal lesions. Here, we report a case where multilevel hemilaminectomy has been done to remove a long segment intraspinal tumor extending from D11 to L5.

Case report

A 47-year-old lady who had backache for 5 years, difficulty in walking for 6 month. She came to us with paraplegia (grade 0 power of both lower limbs), decreased sensation of both lower limbs and bladder incontinence. MRI revealed an intradural mass lesion extending from D11 to L5 level. multilevel hemilaminectomy was performed from D11 to L5 and near total resection of the tumor was done. Postoperatively, patient showed improvement with grade 1-2 power in lower limbs at the end of 3 months.

Advantages of hemilaminectomy

The main advantage of hemilaminectomy is the complete preservation of dorsal static structures of the vertebral column; such as the spinous process, the interspinous and supraspinous ligaments, and the unilateral preservation of the intervertebral joints, laminae, ligamentum flavae and the paraspinal muscles.

Conclusion

It is without doubt that patient morbidity and spine stability is better when surgery is performed through a narrow corridor. It can be concluded that hemilaminectomy is a safe and better alternative to laminectomy in the removal of long segment intradural tumors.

How to cite this article

Mathew D, Abraham TR, Nair AR. Microsurgical Management of Intraspinal Tumors in the Lumbar Spine: Hemilaminectomy as an Alternative to Laminectomy. J Spinal Surg 2014;1(2):84-90.

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